United States: Florida

Firms

1

Allen Dyer Doppelt Milbrath & Gilchrist PA

Lott & Fischer PL

2

Carlton Fields

Espinosa Trueba Martinez PL

GrayRobinson PA

Malloy & Malloy PA

Allen Dyer Doppelt Milbrath & Gilchrist PA

“Huge competitor” Allen Dyer Doppelt Milbrath & Gilchrist is an enduring presence on the Florida IP landscape. The “very skilled” team can tackle any and all matters, from reviewing contracts for franchise purchases to aggressively enforcing rights before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). The lion’s share of its trademark work is undertaken by “incredibly well-respected” and “greatly experienced” Ava Doppelt. The all-rounder always brings her A-game, whether dispensing filing advice or wowing courtrooms with her “talented litigation”. A mainstay of the trademark community, “she should be on top of anybody’s list”.

Carlton Fields

Punching well above its weight is the compact but effective Carlton Fields. The “solid IP team” is home to a phalanx of “seasoned trademark practitioners”. Thanks to the support offered by the firm’s redoubtable corporate group, its true metier is international transactional work. At the helm is Jill Sarnoff Riola, whose previous in-house experience makes her acutely alive to the needs and ambitions of her US and European clientele. The versatile practitioner operates across the spectrum, from prosecution to litigation and transactions. Working beside her is the admired Douglas McDonald, a veteran litigator who is also a dab hand at non-contentious briefs; he is closely involved in the prosecution of marks for major players in the retail sector.

Espinosa Trueba Martinez PL

Espinosa Trueba Martinez excels at securing cast-iron protection for brands around the world: it deftly manages several thousand marks in dozens of countries and can service clients in five languages. Strong alliances with Cuban firms exemplify its internationally minded approach; it leverages these to superb effect when working with restricted marks in Cuba – particularly useful as the market opens up with the lifting of the US embargo. Name partner Jorge Espinosa takes charge of trademark matters, whether in the Sunshine State or further afield. He is a trusted partner for many foreign associates; while his background as a computer programmer means he can speak the language of businesses in the technology sector.

GrayRobinson PA

Full-service GrayRobinson is a force to be reckoned with in IP disputes; it is hailed by peers for its staunch defence of clients’ interests, whether they be start-up companies or Fortune 500 powerhouses. Widely praised for his courtroom acumen, Stefan Stein has both “the litigation and analytical skills” to prevail in all manner of suits. As a triple board certified attorney in Florida, “he simply knows what he’s doing”. The “very capable” Debra Faulk also has abundant experience doing battle in the courts, having taken multimillion-dollar IP cases to trial; she is also celebrated for her robust prosecution practice.

Lott & Fischer PL

“Very well-respected” boutique Lott & Fischer indisputably ranks among the upper echelons of the Floridian market. The consistently high-quality, streamlined service on offer plays well with household brands such as Dell, Canon, GlaxoSmithKline and adidas. The “knowledgeable, ethical and diligent” Leslie Lott is “without question the queen of intellectual property in Florida”, according to one peer. Her “exceptional” advocacy skills make her “a pleasure to work with or be opposing counsel to”; she also has a real flair for mediation, thanks to her “excellent judgement and wonderful disposition”.

Malloy & Malloy PA

One of the oldest IP outfits in town, Malloy & Malloy has long been recognised as among the premier specialists in the state. Founded in 1959, it has always been laser focused on clients’ intangible assets, marrying an encyclopaedic understanding of both soft and hard IP law with refined commercial sensibilities. Rainmaker John Malloy III switches effortlessly between trial and appellate litigation and international portfolio management. The former chair of the International Trademark Association’s Model State Trademark Bill, he was hugely influential in the enactment of the state’s current trademark statute.

Other recommended experts

Corey Cho impresses with her bilingual competency in Korean and English and intimate familiarity with the vicissitudes of Asian markets; she practises at Saliwanchik, Lloyd & Eisenschenk. At Beusse Wolter Sanks & Maire, the “honest and hardworking” Amber Davis takes a meticulous approach to trademark prosecution and enforcement. Her “level of integrity and communications skills are of the highest calibre”. The ever-evolving interplay between intellectual property and the Internet is a specialty for Friedland Vining’s David Friedland. Non-contentious mandates are meat and drink to David Greenbaum, a hot new addition to Fox Rothschild; he has an affinity for spotting potential risks of new marks and for non-traditional marks such as colours and shapes. Dedicated to the prosecution and protection of soft IP rights, Gabrielle Holley is “very knowledgeable and practical”; she “understands how prosecution procedures operate and is fun to work with”. She operates out of her own shop Holley & Menker. Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns is home to crack litigator Frank Jakes; with an impressive track record in IP disputes, he has made regular appearances in trial and appellate courts across the country. Boutique Maxey Law Offices is home to the “impressive” Brittany Maxey; with a technical background in biology and a keen “understanding of entrepreneurs and the business realities they face”, she is a “force to be reckoned with”. Holley & Menker’s James Menker is a former examining attorney at the US Patent and Trademark Office; his insight into its inner workings makes him a first port of call for non-contentious instructions, especially those relating to international sports portfolios. The resolutely commercial Mark Passler at Akerman is a big-picture thinker who excels across the trademark lifecycle; entertainment law is a strong suit. Based in the Miami area is “very professional and well-organised” sole practitioner Mark Stein, of Mark Stein Law. He “cares about the outcome of every one of his clients” and stays on “the leading edge of developments in the law”.